The 5 Best Pop Up Canopies Reviewed For 2018

Pop up canopies are a modern marvel of lightweight materials that bring comfort anywhere. Whether you want to take a canopy out tailgating, to the flea market, or to the beach there’s an option for your needs.

Buying a pop up canopy today is more affordable and effective than ever with improvements in material and design. It’s not always the best idea to just buy the first one you find off the shelf, though.

That’s why I’m going to help you figure out what separates a great pop up canopy from the mediocre ones.

We’ll brush up on how to choose the best pop up gazebo and examine things like materials, quality, and weight.

It says basic right in the name and while it may be a bit mislead, it’s ultimately true. While it lacks features like the vent and the canopy-top tieout lines, it may be the best pop up canopy with tons of great reviews.

I like that this pop up canopy comes with a roller bag featuring some nice sized wheels. For days at the beach you can wheel it down the boardwalk or across the parking lot to set up at the flea market.

There’s a one year warranty included on the canopy for those who need some reassurance.

On top of that, Eurmax sells spare parts online so this may be one of the only canopies that is easily repairable if and when something decides to break on you.

While I would have liked to see a more robust fabric choice, the 300 denier polyester isn’t too bad.

Be careful though, there is no mention that this canopy is waterproof and the polyester fabric by itself certainly won’t be.

This economy grade pop up canopy is made to bring all the features at a fraction of the price. There are few advanced features but what you do get is the best outdoor canopy at a bargain price.

Luckily there is an optional 2 year manufacturer warranty that covers defects on the pop up canopy. Users have had outstanding experience with this canopy, though so you’ll probably not even need that warranty.

Like many canopies on our list, this one has quick release buttons on all four legs which make it easier to lower and raise the canopy. This is a huge improvement over the standard push button style.

This canopy is in fact waterproof although I can’t speak to the type or quality of fabric used for the canopy.

I would probably be ready to maintain the waterproofness of the canopy or improve the seam sealing in areas if necessary.

CORE has taken the Coleman design and polished it up to bring it back to us at a great price. But let’s be clear, I don’t know which is the proverbial chicken and egg in this instance.

Either way, I think you’ll love the features on this affordable easy up canopy.

Coleman and CORE both sport ventilation panels at the top of the canopy. These can be opened and closed using the attached velcro post.

Of course it’s still waterproof when using this vent, provided that the wind doesn’t blow water up into the vent. But let’s be honest, if the wind is that strong your canopy will probably blow away anyways.

While I would have liked to see the canopy material being made from something more robust, the 150 denier polyester should be robust enough for most situations.

Like others on our list the legs have pinch-free easy to use buttons for quick adjustment. There are also wheels on the included transport bag!

Overall it’s a feature rich canopy with many similarities to the Coleman we reviewed earlier, yet at a lower price overall.

Best For: Extra features and top-anchored guylines in windy scenarios.

Canopy Material

If this seems nitpicky, rest assured it’s one of the most important factors. Modern fabrics can be quite susceptible to things like sun damage and water leaks.

In order to avoid having yourself or your things dripped on you’ll need the best canopy material available.

Most canopies will either be polyester or nylon. These two fabrics are both common for outdoor applications but both heavily susceptible to UV damage from sun.

Whenever possible look for canopies made from UV resistant fabric or coated with UV resistant chemicals. UV damaged canopies will become grayish and fragile, eventually tearing and falling apart in light winds or during storage.

For waterproofness you’ll want a nylon canopy if possible. Nylon is inherently quite waterproof and can be made moreso with coating or special weaving processes.

Waterproof coatings on canopies will usually appear as a thin plastic-like film on the inside of the fabric. If your canopy fabric feels like soft untreated fabric on both sides, chances are there’s no waterproofing!

Some less common canopy materials are plastic variants and are inherently waterproof without needing coatings. These can be made from a variety of materials and may range from quality to cheap.

Waterproofness

Like outdoor fabrics for tents and clothing, it is possible to maintain waterproofness on pop up canopies. DWR or durable water repellant finishes may be “washed” in to your canopy.

Be sure to use a front load washer for this. Top load washers may damage the canopy fabric or waterproofing.

Spray on coating are acceptable, too. Pitch your canopy and spray these chemicals on during a sunny warm day outdoors. Be sure to let the coating dry thoroughly before storing or you’ll ruin it!

If you’re thinking about starting with a non-waterproof fabric and making it waterproof with coatings or wash in chemicals, don’t bother.

It’s never effective enough to get the job done and you’ll waste a ton of time and frustration trying to save a buck. In the end it will cost you more.

Seam Sealing

Amazingly some pop up canopies are advertised as “waterproof” while not being seam sealed. Technically the fabric is waterproof in these cases.

However, the stitched seams lack a waterproof tape. Manufacturers do this to save money on super-cheap canopies. In the end it’s just a junk product.

Luckily you can seam seal the canopy yourself. Use McNett’s silicone seam sealer and apply it to the seams of a pitched canopy. Like DWR, be sure to let it dry fully before storage.

Folding a tent with wet silicone sealer on it will not only ruin the seam sealing, but you may permanently glue parts of the canopy together!

Most quality pop up canopies are seam sealed from the factory. Watch out, though, because the seam tape used in most manufacturing processes can eventually loosen and peel off after a few years of use. If this happens, use the above method to re-seal the seams.

Canopy Size

Canopy size isn’t rocket science – just pick the one that gives you the most space for your needs. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

10 x 10 foot canopies are standard sizes for most flea markets and craft fairs. Most festivals have premade spaces available for 10 foot canopies.

If you go for a 12 foot or larger it may actually become a hindrance or festival organizers may charge you more for a larger space. Consider getting two 10 x 10 canopies and renting two spaces side by side if you need more space.

For general use bigger is usually better. The caveat is that larger canopies are, of course, bulkier and heavier.

You should also be aware that large pop up canopies may catch more wind and will be much harder to tie down during bad weather. Make sure you have adequate stakes and rope for those nasty days.

Frame Material

Canopies are just one aspect of a pop up – there’s also the frame that supports the entire structure. Mostly these are made from hollow aluminum tubing that’s held together with aluminum rivets and plastic caps.

Of course you may find some exceptions to this.

While the plastic frame components are generally the weakest part of your pop up canopy, there’s not much to be done about it.

Manufacturers use these materials because they’re cheap and easy to produce and they keep the canopy light enough to easily carry. Just be aware that you don’t stress these components with lateral forces.

Some pop up canopies may be available in steel frames. These will be much heavier than their aluminum counterparts and are usually only used when heavy forces are involved.

If you’re setting up your canopy and you know there will be snow falling on the roof, or heavy nasty storms you may want to go for a robust steel canopy. Just be aware that the added weight is a burden for transport.

Aluminum frames should be fine for most applications as long as you’re careful not to abuse the frame. Don’t hang things from it or stress the members of the frame with loads it’s not designed to take or you’ll have a broken frame in no time.

Conclusion

Pop up canopies are great for everything from tailgating to craft booths. When it comes to dealing with inclement weather it’s hard to beat the proven waterproofness of the KingKong series canopy from AbcCanopy.

For an overall excellent outdoor canopy with a great name behind it, it’s hard to argue with the Coleman 10-foot tent.

No matter what your needs are, there’s something on our list for you.

Remember that you don’t always have to pay top dollar. Just be sure to review our “How to Choose” section before making a purchasing decision so you don’t get fleeced!

I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best pop up canopy to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a pair of pants I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.

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About Casey Fielder

I am an avid outdoorsman with experience in naturalist education, outside adventure education, ski instruction, and writing. In addition to my outdoor hobbies, I’m a huge fan of punk rock.
I have launched several start-ups. (or business ventures) When exploring the backcountry, I usually carry less than 10 pounds of gear. Years of experience have taught me to pack light.
I enjoy sharing my experiences of backcountry education teaching and guiding through writing.